Khanvel People

Like the land, the people of Dadra & Nagar Haveli are simple and unspoiled. Hospitable and kind, they follow age-old traditions and are happy for visitors to explore their rich and varied art, music, folklore and dances.Tribals make up a large part of the population - 62%. The most prominent are Dhodia (16.90%), Kokna (16.85%) and Varli (62.94%), with small groups of Koli, Kathodi, Naika and Dubla scattered across the territory, collectively representing 3.31% of the population. Dhodias and Dubles mainly populate the Northern part, whereas Koknas and Varlis are found all over the Union Territory. They worship the primary deities of Dis (Sun) and Chand (Moon), and Narandev, Kanasari, Himai, Hirva, Veer, Rangtai and Vagdev. Read more about the tribals of Dadra & Nagar Haveli.Agriculture is the main occupation, but as holdings are small, many of them work as farm labourers or seek employment in other areas. They enjoy fishing and hunting, are firm believers in their deities and perform rituals regularly.Although people generally speak Gujarati, Marathi and Hindi, the locals or adivasis speak individual dialects.